This the PMI Piranha BLVF with E-Force Trigger Frame. (first pic on the right) Comes like that out of the box, with bottom line adapter, PMI Green Bolt and 12 inch Ported Barrel, small sight rail and non removable feed neck. Out of the box this is a great marker, with some cash invested and some tinkering this can be a really great marker. It has a full auto mode (12bps), the burst mode fires 3-6-9 balls at a time and is really good for charging on an open field. If you got a good reflex in your trigger finger you can get this marker to fire really nicely so forget the full auto mode. Despite the fact the the trigger frame is plastic it is very durable and the internal electronics are well sealed and made waterproof so you can play in the rain as much as you want to, I know I did.

I made modifications over period of 18 months by buying different things. Total cost of this change, I estimate was about $300, adding to that the price I paid for this marker $98 would make this a $400 marker, but of course it is not. For a while I was using an expansion chamber, Bob Long style, I tried a 4 stage 32 Degrees Expansion chamber which worked just as well as the Bob Long one. One really important thing I got was the Field Strip Pin, the stock one without locking mechanism almost fell out twice.

Now this(2nd picture) is the modified but not the final version of the above. The barrel is 14 inch Smart Parts Progressive, below you see the twisted volumizer (its more show than anything else and a total pain in the ass to screw in, I had to use lots of sealant and visegrips). Then there is the ACI drop forward and 32 Degrees Macroline kit. And dual stage HT regulator set to 320 PSI, the regulator has no gauge so I used a gauge adapter with a 3000psi gauge (now replaced by Bob Long 600 psi one <link> ). I used a 32 degrees spring kit and changed the valve spring to soft and hammer spring to soft and still cut of couple rings off because I was shooting over 310 FPS, now I shoot shoot steady 275 - 280FPS. I am showing a macro line on this pic however right now I went back to using a steel braided line, something about it makes me trust it more, but its not true, macro lines are better and much easier to install and replace, its just they create an illusion of being flimsy and not very durable. The picture in the middle is the setup with expansion chamber and C02 tank, a 20oz CO2 tank can last a long time on this marker even without a regulator.

I actually do not have a newest pictures of my marker, now I went back to the steel braided hose, sold the twisted volumizer and got a shocktech one, and got an Evil Driver barrel, the barrel I have to say was the best investemnt ever well worth the $60 I paid for it.

For all who want to learn lesson 1 is to be open minded. Pretty much all open bolt blow back markers are made the same. Open bolt blow back marker is for example a Spyder, and all markers based on the Spyder design know as Spyder clones will look and shoot almost the same, those will include Maruders, Orions, Tritons, Avengers, Icons, Strikers, Brawlers, Black maxx, Pirahnas ect... Even Armortech makes very fancy spyder clones. So where as the quality of manufacturing counts, anyone of the above mentioned markers is pretty much like the other, this is a message for all those who will jump up with mature comments like "Brass eagle sucks" or "you should get an angel" I'm sure those are being backed by years of being an air smith (i am being sarcastic). Check out the Rainmaker it is a very awsome marker. <Link>

Tune your marker to the position and tactic you are playing. If you feel like an assault front lines kinda guy then most likely you want a light setup electro frame and good accuracy over the range. If you play defense heavy setup is perfectly fine and you want to have superior range to keep incoming enemy away. Maybe then you would use a Tippmann A-5 with extended 350 ball hopper and a flatline barrel. One of my friends uses Armortech WG-65 with 22 inch barrel and 40 ball hoppers which he uses like clips because he wants to be a marksman - quality over quantity, its easy to hit a guy when your marker spits out a case of paint at a trigger pull, try hitting him in 3 shots.

Click here for pictures of the E-Grip (for those interested in modding or other) <link>

I just installed a new gauge on my Pirahna after the old one got shot <link>

See how you can polish your bolt to make it cycle faster and use less pressure <link>